The Dress Up Hoodie |Mouse House Creations|

Scroll down for english, please. 

Minha gente, acaba de sair um novo molde pelo qual fiquei encantada. É o Dress Up Hoodie da Mouse House Creations é é qualquer coisa de especial. Além de que é perfeito para esta altura do ano, para quem gosta de festejar o Halloween. Mesmo que ainda não tenham costurado um fato para os miúdos, não se preocupem, este molde pode-vos salvar. 

People, there's a new pattern out there that got me amazed. It is the Dress Up Hoodie from Mouse House Creations and it really is something special. Just perfect for this Halloween season. Even if you're running behind with a costume, don't panic, this pattern might save you. 

O meu piolho tem de se mascarar dia 31 na escolinha e eu não tinha nada para ele até há dois dias, quando acabei este novo hoodie. Escolhi fazer a versão "morcego" para ele e ficou bem melhor do que eu esperava. Como não me dava tempo de encomendar uma malha à medida para este projeto, e preta como um pequeno morcego pede, acabei por usar o que tinha à mão. O que uma vez terminado, veio reforçar a minha ideia de que a nossa criatividade se apura sempre que temos de improvisar. Modéstia à parte, tornei-me muito boa nisso. 

I live in Portugal and we don't celebrate Halloween as people do in the USA, for example, but kids get to wear spooky costumes at school, and teens are actually doing trick or treat too for these past few years, first they were very shy, just a few, but now we hear them out all the time. The bad thing is that they do a lot of nasty stuff with the "halloween" excuse. Anyway... my boy needed a costume to wear at school next tuesday, and I had zero until two days ago when I finished this hoodie. I chose to make the "bat" for him and it got even better than I hoped for. I knew I didn't have the time to order the right knit for this project, in color and type, as a bat deserves, I just worked with what I had. Once finished, it just reinforced my belief that creativity improves every time you're forced to improvise. And modesty to the paret, I became pretty good at that. 

Mas continuando, usei uma malha mais fina, que em tempos foi uma fronha de almofada XXL, e que já tinha usado parte anteriormente. Não é completamente branca embora assim parece nas fotos, tiradas ao fim da tarde, numa luta contra o pôr do sol, e quase em desespero porque 1º não se queria virar para a máquina, depois não queria o capucho na cabeça, e só para irritar depois já não queria nada, até pediu para tirar o hoodie e tudo. Sempre foi do contra, fazer o quê? E olhem que ele delirou quando viu a peça... até gritou BATMANNNNN. Ainda conseguimos algumas que d´´a para vos mostrar os detalhes da peça, por isso já me dou por satisfeita. 

And on we go, I used a light knit, that was a XXL pillow cover, and which I had used a piece of a while ago. It is not totally white as it seems to be in these pictures, taking late in the afternoon, in a duel with the sunset, and almost in despair because this kid didn't want to stare at the camera first, then he didn't want to have the hood on his head and to finish, he just didn't want to wear it at all asking us to take it off. He's always been this way, what can I do? Believe me when I say he actually liked it a lot when he saw it... he even screamed BATMANNNNN. We did get a few shots though, which I think are just enough to show you the details. 

O molde é composto por vários animais, uns com capas, asas, unicórnios, caudas, orelhinhas, enfim... é muita fofura junta, e a mais velha também já fez o seu pedido. Para este usei o molde base do hoodie, dispensei o bolso da frente e em vez disso, desenhei (a olho mesmo) um morcego num papel, cortei-o em flanela (o que se revelou uma óptima opção, já que a flanela aderiu bem à malha, dando-lhe estabilidade e facilitando a sua aplicação - feita com um ponto zigue-zague muito pequenino). Usei as orelhas e asas de morcego, estas últimas são costuradas nas mangas, para as quais usei também a flanela. Era o único tecido preto na minha coleção que me pareceu indicado. 

The pattern is made out of several different animals, some have capes, wings, horns, tails, hears, as so... it's too much cuteness altogether, and my oldest has requested her own as well. For this specific one, I used the basic hoodie, skipped the front pocked and instead I free hand drafted a bat in a papel, then cut it on flannel (which was a great option, since it adhered to the knit nicely, give it some stability and making the sewing task much easier - applied with a very small zig zag stitch). I used the bat ears and wings, this last one is sewed to the sleeves, and I used flannel for them too. This was the only fabric in my stash that seemed appropriate for the project. 

Adoro ver as asas a abrir e a fechar conforme ele mexe os braços. Ainda pensei que se poderia tornar desconfortável quando ele os estica mais para a frente, mas aparentemente isso não acontece, pelo menos não se queixou. As nossas orelhinhas não se aguentam de pé, muito possivelmente porque o tecido não tem corpo suficiente para se manter, ainda assim não deixar de ser super fofas. Agora, penso que devia ter usado preto para os dois lados, frente e trás. Ah, e os punhos são reciclados de hoodies de adulto. 

I love to see the wings moving as he opens or closes his arms. I thought it'd be uncomfortable for him when he pulls his arms forward, but aparently that doesn't happen, or at least he did not complain yet. Our ears don't stand up, possible because our knit hasn't got enough structure to stand, nonetheless they are still pretty cute. Staring at it now, I think I should have used the black fabric for front and back. Oh, and our bands were recycled from adult hoodies. 

Se ele gostou? Claro que sim! A foto acima confirma-o. Só queria que este calor passasse duma para que terça feira o miúdo não assasse dentro do hoodie. E para quem desse lado gostou da ideia, ainda vão a tempo de espreitar todas as outras opções disponíveis e comprar o molde em desconto (link lá acima, logo no início deste post). Têm o fim de semana para pôr mãos à obra. Depois juntam umas calças pretas (que é o que eu vou fazer) e em duas horas têm um disfarce pronto. 

Did he like it? Oh yes! The above photo seals that. I just wanted this hot weather to be finally gone for good, so tuesday the boy wouldn't bake inside the hoodie. And if you liked the idea you're still in time to check all the other options and get the pattern on sale (link above in this post). You have the weekend to sew. Then you just throw in a pair of black pants (which is surely what I'll do) and, in about two hours, you have yourself a new costume. 

Luis & Joana Hoodie

Aqui já vos falei sobre a Susana, por isso dispensa apresentações. Acontece-se que ontem, a Susana lançou o seu segundo molde, e mais uma vez fiz parte do seu grupo de teste. A sério que quando vi que ela estava para testar outro molde fiquei logo entusiasmada, é que trabalhar com um molde em português é outra coisa. Não que não me sinta à vontade com os moldes em inglês, mas que tem outro gosto, lá isso tem. 

I've already told you about Susana, here, so no introductions needed. It happens that Susana's second pattern has been out yesterday, and I have been part of her testers again. I seriously felt quite excited when I saw she was calling for new testers, because working with a pattern that is written in portuguese (there is an english version too, as well as there is one for her first pattern now too!!), is something quite different. Not that I don't feel comfortable with the english patterns, it is just that it is specia, I don't know how to explain it. 

Então, como eu dizia, ontem a Susana lançou o seu 2º molde, o Luis & Joana Hoodie através do Up Craft Club, onde estará até ao fim do dia de hoje com 25% de desconto, a partir de amanhã podem encontrá-lo também em Suco by Susana. 

As I was saying, Susana had her Luis & Joana Hoodie pattern out yesterday through Up Craft Club, where you can find it until the end of the day with 25% off, from tomorrow on you can also get it from Suco by Susana. 

O molde vai dos 12M aos 12A, e garanto-vos que é daqueles moldes aos quais podemos recorrer frequentemente, pois não sei quanto a vocês, mas os meus miúdos usam basicamente roupas confortáveis, e hoodies, estão sempre lá. 

The pattern comes in sizes 12M - 12Y and I assure you it is one of those go to patterns, because, I don't know about you, but my kids spend their lives in comfortable clothes, so hoodies are a  big part of it. 

Desta vez testei o molde no tamanho 5, para a minha filhota e digamos que foi um sucesso cá por casa. Quando quis tirar fotos para mostrar à designer como assenta a peça nela, respondeu-me que deixava tirar as fotos com a condição de poder ficar com ele vestido depois de as tirarmos. Uma querida, portantos!

This time I tested size 5 for my girl, and let's say it has been quite a success around here. When I tried to take some fitting photos of her for the designer, she told me she would only if she could keep it after the shotting. A sweetheart, of course!

O tecido é da única loja onde tenho comprado tecidos ultimamente, e usei este na falta de melhor pois não tinha nada capaz em sweatshirt para costurar isto. Este é um jersey fino, não extremamente fino porém, por isso até funcionou bem aqui. O único senão é que possivelmente só será usado quando os frios voltarem a ficar um pouco mais quentes. 

The fabric is from the only shop I've been buying from lately, and I used this one because I didn't have a good sweatshirt one for the project. This is a light jersey, though not too light so it worked just fine. The only no-nos of this one is that we might have to wait for warmer days for her to wear it. 

Kids Clothes Week |day 3|

On the third day, I was able to have something finished. Even with plumbers breaking my walls, working all day around, and everything. Of course I still feel very satisfied. I am facing the truth though, I won't be able to do everything I dreamed of, but that's fine. I am keeping the goal of sewing for at least one hour every day, just to make things right this time (I always sign for KCW, but most often I don't follow the rules). 

Let's move on though. The outfit for my baby boy is now complete. I used a men's XL shirt (dark green) and just a few pieces for details and contrast from a women's XXL shirt, for the two pieces. So... 

The Shirt

I used the Rowan Tee pattern from Titchy Threads, and I did a different version from the previous ones I made (one for the test, one of the tour). I was happy that my baby already fits the smaller size (6-12M) and I got to make a boy version this time, and also try the hooded one since I messed up with it when I did the test. I used the original hem for the front and back pieces, and did a regular hem on the sleeves. I used a zig zag stitch in all my seams because I was too lazy to switch to the twin needle. This version has a kangaroo pocket on front, which is a feature of the Rowan that I hadn't try before. I've added patches in the elbows because I love the look and I thought the contrast fabric should be seen a bit more than just in the hood lining. I thought it would be bigger on him, but apart from the sleeves that are still too long, just like every shirt on him, even rtw, it fits great. 

The Pants

That's not much to say about it... I was able to save the original men's shirt sleeves after cutting all the pieces for the rowan, so I knew I had to make a matching pair of pants. I used a rtw pair to draft the pattern and make this one. After finishing I thought it'd be a bit too large on him, but apparently he's bigger than I think he is and it was the perfect fit. I added patches on the knees too - or so I hoped, they are a little off. Again, because I wanted the lining fabric from the hood to stand out too. I was afraid that by making both pieces with the same fabric it'd turn out too boring, so I patched everything away. The fit was spot on. 

What about you? Have you been sewing along KCW? What are you working on right now?

House full of Pandas |PR&P9#1|

Season 9 of Project Run & Play has kicked yesterday with the first theme being Take me to the Zoo. Goal: create an outfit inspired on our/our kid's favourite animal, trying to stay away from costumes though. 

Ever since I saw the themes, I've spent a while thinking about it. I wanted to make something for the baby, then something for G. and just couldn't decide. I thought about the elephant shirt idea (maybe later, because it's really cute), then cats because we've got two, the shark hoddies and then I kept seeing teenagers wearing cute Panda hoodies... 

And it hit me! I want to make Panda inspired clothes for my kids too. They are just too cute and sweet, and they are black and white and G. loves Pandas because of Canal Panda. I only had to decide what to do. I wanted to do something quick and easy because, you know, I've been having lots to sew (with a couple pattern testing in the middle too). So, I didn't get to be that creative. I used other's creativity and just made my takes on some things I had seen online.

First thing on the list. I had to get that Panda hoodie done for one of my kids. Which one? Well, let's start with the baby, shall we?! Now, if you still don't know it... because I have mentioned it to some friends but haven't said it clear out here, the baby that's on the way is a... roll drum... baby BOY! And my first sewing project for him and him only was this hoodie. You can imagine how much I love it, right?!

Especially because I have used one of his sister's shirt that doesn't fit anymore and I wasn't going to put him on. It was all fury, with finishing details in pink, such as the ruffles in the sleeves and hem, the pink bias in the collar and the flower embroidery in the front. 

So, the first thing I did was to deconstruct everything. I used the back of the original one to make my hoodie's front. Lucky for me, instead of pink too, the snaps on it were white. I then used the sleeves to draft new, without the puffiness of the original ones (another girly feature I wanted to get rid of). Those original white sleeves were transformed into the Panda's head. For the black parts I used some velvet I had in my stash for years. And I used rib knit for the cuffs that I had saved from previously refashioned (men) hoodies. 

When I was done with it, I just knew I had to make something for my big girl. I had seen an online Panda look that I loved and wanted to re-create that too. I was running out of any refashionable item to make the mismatched striped leggings, but I had this t-shirt from dad in my pile, and the word fashion standing out caugh my attention. I still could make a mismatched pair of leggings for her. 

But before I made the leggings, I finally made an Izzy top (free PDF pattern). I've been wanting to try this pattern since the day I first saw it over Climbing the Willow. I've seen wonderful pieces created with it, but was always postponing it. No more. I finally tried it myself and am a fan. I didn't line mine though, I used a white t-shirt from my stash to refashion, and the black ribbon knit for the bias again. I also made mine about 2-3 inches longer than the pattern. So it looks more like a dress than a top. I still haven't tried it on my girl.

I followed instructions and used the button tab and everything. But I forgot I wasn't lining, I was using bias instead and the tab had to go over it. I don't dislike it though, looks different but in a good way. I should have made the button tab just a bit longer for it to look better. It almost didn't have enough lengh to actually close. I've used a metallic snap.

For the eyes and ears of the Panda, I used sequined fabric I had in my stash, I added interface to make it stiffer. I embroidered the muzzle in a light pink. Half way through it I thought I could use a slightly darker thread but was too lazy to undo and redo it all over.

And that's it from me. There's a lot more inspiration for kids animal inspired clothes at the link party over PR&P.